Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are one of the most successful teams in IPL history, with five titles to their name. They have been incredibly consistent, reaching the finals 10 times. Over the years, the team has featured legendary players like Matthew Hayden, Muttiah Muralitharan, Makhaya Ntini, and Ravichandran Ashwin, who have all played key roles in CSK’s success.
CSK is known for keeping the same players even in tough times, which has made them one of the best franchises in IPL history. Their strong bond off the field translates to great teamwork on the field, helping them win five championships. In this article, we’ll look at the five greatest players in CSK history.
5 Best Chennai Super Kings Players in IPL History
5. Faf du Plessis
Players like Ambati Rayudu, Rituraj Gaikwad, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Shane Watson were also considered for the fifth spot on this list, but we chose Faf du Plessis. The former South African cricketer was a key player for Chennai Super Kings and they tried to bring him back in 2022, but Royal Challengers Bangalore won the bid for him in the auction. Despite this, he still plays for several teams linked to Super Kings in T20 leagues worldwide.
Faf joined CSK in 2012 for Rs 60 lakh and has been a crucial player, scoring 2721 runs in 92 matches with a strike rate of 131.44. At 40 years old, he remains the third-highest run-scorer for CSK in IPL history. He is also third in the list for most half-centuries with the team and has helped them win three IPL titles.
4. Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo, a former West Indies cricketer, is one of the best overseas players to have represented Chennai Super Kings. He played 116 matches for the team, taking 140 wickets and scoring 1004 runs with a strike rate of 137.15. Bravo joined CSK in the 2011 IPL auction for US$200, playing for the franchise until 2015. He returned in 2018 and played for five more seasons.
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Bravo holds the record for the most wickets taken for CSK in IPL history. He won the Purple Cap in 2013 and 2015 and was part of three championship-winning teams. After retiring, the 41-year-old became CSK’s bowling coach and later took on the role of mentor for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
3. Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina, also called ‘Chinna Thala’, has played 176 matches for Chennai Super Kings, scoring 4687 runs at a strike rate of 136.88. He is the franchise’s highest run-scorer and has been crucial in their three IPL title wins. Raina has also won two Champions Trophies with CSK.
He was MS Dhoni’s deputy for a long time. When CSK was banned from the IPL in 2016 and 2017, Raina captained Gujarat Lions for two seasons, leading them to the top of the points table in 2016.
At 37, Raina was CSK’s top run-scorer in 2008, 2010, and 2012. He was once the IPL’s highest run-scorer until Virat Kohli passed him. Raina is currently the fifth-highest run-scorer in IPL history with 5528 runs, and he also has a century, which he scored against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in 2013.
2. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja remains a key player for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The franchise bought him for Rs 9.8 crore in 2012 and has kept him ever since. In 2022, after Dhoni stepped down as captain, Jadeja was named the leader, but his performance as captain wasn’t strong, leading him to give up the role.
There were rumors of a fallout with Dhoni, sparking speculation that Jadeja might leave CSK. However, the franchise managed to keep the 35-year-old, and in the following season, he played a crucial role in the final, scoring 10 runs off the last two balls to help CSK win the trophy.
Jadeja has been retained for Rs 18 crore ahead of IPL 2025. In his 172 matches for CSK, he has scored 1,897 runs at a strike rate of 136.18 and taken 146 wickets. He also holds a unique IPL record as the only player to score over 2,000 runs and take 150 wickets in the tournament.
1. MS Dhoni
Just as Sachin Tendulkar is to Mumbai and Sourav Ganguly is to Kolkata, MS Dhoni holds a special place in Chennai. Though born in Ranchi, Dhoni made Chennai his second home, earning the title “Thala” from CSK fans. He was the first player bought by CSK in the 2008 mega-auction, and since then, he has led the team to numerous victories, including five IPL championships.
Dhoni has played 234 matches for CSK, winning 137 of them. He has scored 4669 runs, making him the second-highest run-scorer in the franchise’s history. He also holds the record for the most dismissals (190) as a wicketkeeper, the most matches (133) as captain, and the most wins (152) in IPL history.
At 43, Dhoni has been retained for IPL 2025 and is registered in the uncapped category for Rs 4 crore. He will aim to add more titles to his collection and become the player with the most IPL trophies ever.
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